Coast Guard Ship Named For NC Commander

A North Carolinian has been honored with the naming of a new Coast Guard ship. The cutter Richard Etheridge is named for the first African-American to lead a life-saving station. Commanding Officer Christian Lee says Etheridge started as a cook at the famous Pea Island Life Saving Station on the Outer Banks before working his way up to command.

Christian Lee: "They needed the best they had to offer and everyone pointed to Richard Etheridge. And despite his being African-American they promoted him to a position of command and appointed an all African-American crew which the Pea Island Station remained such, I believe, until the 50s."

Lee was in Manteo yesterday touring significant sites from Etheridge's life including his gravestone. Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge was in Portsmouth, Virginia before returning to its home base in Miami.